Store-service apparatus



No. 608,597. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. H. GOODFELLUW.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 12, 1896.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. H. GOODFELLOW. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

(Applicqtion filed May 12 1896.)

4 Sheets$heat 2.

(No Model.)

W1 31 mam No. 608,597. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. H. GODDFELLUW.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 12, 1896.) (No Model.) 4 $heets-Sheet 3.

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Patented Aug. 9, I898.

J. H. GOODFELLOW. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

(Application .filed May 12, 1896.)

4 Sheets-$heat 4.

(No Model.)

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JOHN ll. GOODFELLOW, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEXV JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,597, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed May 12, 1896. se a NO- 591,310. (No modclil To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. GOODFELLOW,

of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in store-service apparatus of that description in which a carriage travels on a Way between stations. It has for its object the production of a receiving mechanism located at one end of the line and a receiving and propelling mechanism located at the other end of the line.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as Will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawlugs.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is l a side elevation of a store-service apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View showing a side elevation of the receiving mechanism located at one 'end of the way. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. am a detail View showing a front elevation of the frictional guides. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the frictional guides and the way-supporting arm pivoted thereto. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the carriage,"the' parcel-receptacle, and the intervening mechanism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing'the coupling mechanism between the yoke and the saddle. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the same. Fig. 9 is a detail View showingpart of the mechanism for moving the coupling-link. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the receiving mechanism at one end of the way. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the receiving and propelling mechanism at one end of the way Like reference characters designate corre sponding parts in. the severalviews.

The hanger A is secured to a support of any construction suitable in the premises. Attached to the lower end of the same is a supporting-rod a.

On the latter is adjustably mounted the foot a, provided with a setscrew a for securing it in its adjustments. An arm a projects from the foot and has pivoted to its under side the bracket B. To the latter are secured the upper end of the inclined way W and the end of the propelling-wire P.

A longitudinal passage is formed in the bracket B, and in it is movably mounted the rack-bar b. Projecting from the upper face of theforward end of the rack-bar are two oppositely-turned hooks b, engaging with the way W and the. propelling-wire P. Rubber buffers 19 and b are respectively carried by the rack-bar on opposite sides of the hooks b. With the rack-bar engages the segmental gear I), provided with the operating-lever b and pivoted between-the lugs h projecting from the under side of the bracket B. The opposite faces I) and 19 respectively, of the se mental gear are relatively inclined, so as to approach each other toward the edge 1)", and thereby form a cam or wedge. (See Figs. 1, 10, and 11.) I

Jaws C are mounted on the bracket 13 for receiving and engaging with the carriage.

They are pivoted by the screws 0 passing through them into the lugs 0 projecting from the bracket. The forward ends 0 of the jaws are curved outwardly and are adapted to re ceive the carriage between them. The rear ends 0 have their extremities 0 turned inwardly and bearing on the faces 17 and b of the segmental gear b The rear ends of the jaws are forced against the inclined or cam faces 6 and b by the spring a, interposed be tween the forward ends of the jaws. This spring also serves to normally hold the forward ends of the jaws apart to receive the carriage between them.

At the lower end of the line a hanger D is attached to a suitable support. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) On its lower end is adjustably mounted the sleeve d, provided with the setscrew cl for securing it in its adjustments. The lower end of the sleeve is bifurcated, and between the legsof thebifurcation is pivoted the lug d of the foot 61 by the pin (1 The lug d has an extension (i against the opposite sides of which the set-screws d" and d impinge. By means of the extension (1 5 f for securing it in its adjustments.

and the set-screws impinging thereon the forward end of the foot (I can be adjusted to any required degree of elevation. In the foot is secured an end of the inclined way I by the set-screw d Frictional guides E are hinged to the forward end of the foot (I by the rule-joints 6. Each guide is adjustably held by the setscrew 6, passing through the flange e? of the foot (1 and impinging on the flange 6 of the guide. Between the guides the way 7 passes. The upper face of each guide forms a track. The forward end 6" of each track is gradually curved from a point below the line of the way to a point above the way as the track approaches the inner end of the guide. The rear end e of each track is depressed below the forward end. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 12.) To the under side of the forward end of one of the frictional guides is pivoted the arm 6 by the screw e On the other guide is a spring-catch e adapted to engage with the free end of the arm 6. A spring e normally holds the arm in engagement with the catch. (See Figs. 2, 4, and 5.) The arm when in engagement with the catch passes under the way NV and holds the latter in its proper position relative to the frictional guides, so that the weight of the carriage will not depress the way below the guides.

The upper ends of the guide-rods F are mounted in the outer ends of the bifurcated b "acket f, adjustably placed on the hanger D. The bracket is provided with a set-screw The lower ends f of the rods are bent at substantially right angles to the main portions of the rods and are inserted in the recessed lugs f and f projecting from the upper face of the foot (1 The bent ends of the rods are screwthreaded, and engaging therewith are the thumb-nuts f between the lugs f and f By means of the thumb-nuts the lower ends of the guide-rods can be moved and adjusted to give more or less slant to the upright portions of the rods. Setscrews f pass through the lugs f and serve to secure the rods in their adjustments.

A slide G is mounted on the guide-rods F.

Projecting from its rear side is the bifurcated lug g. An angular lever having the arms g I and g is pivoted at its angle in the bifurca- To the outer end of the tion of the said lug. arm gis pivoted an end of the rod g and to the free end of the latter is secured an end of f the propelling-wire I. Adjacent to the rod the propelling-wire carries arubber buffer g In the foot (Z directly beneath the arm g is secured a rubber cushion g to limit the downward movement of the slide G. A pullcord g is attached to the pivoted end of the rod g and passes over the outer end of the arm 9 which is grooved for the purpose. A

. bracket 9 is adj ustably placed on the hanger D and is provided with a set-screw g 'for securing it in its adjustments. In the outer end of the bracket is journaled a sheave 9 over which the pull-cord passes. The pullcord leads through the guide 9 and by means of the same the slide G can be moved on the guide-rods F.

The carriage II has a frame consisting of the side pieces 7%, suitably secured together. Between the side pieces the upper and lower grooved wheels h and h are j ournaled. These wheels are adapted to engage with the way W and the propelling-wire 1. On the side pieces are placed the rubber friction-rollers lb The latter are secured on the metal sleeves 7L journa'led on the screws lbs. The friction-rollers are so situated as to ride on the frictional guides when the carriage passes between the latter. Bulges 71, project from the side pieces h and are adapted to be engaged by the jaws G when the carriage enters between them. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) To the under side of the carriage II is secured the yoke L, in the ends of which are secured the upper ends of the rods Z. In the yoke intermediate of its ends a recess Z is formed, having bearings Z 111 its walls. Journaled in the said bearings are the ends of the shaft Z carrying the lever Z". The latter has a finger Z on which the springZ presses. From the free end of the lever an arm I projects. (See Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Sleeves M are movably mounted on the rods Z and are connected at their upper ends by the saddle m. Attached to the upper face of the saddle is the catch m, adapted to be engaged by the lever Z. The latter is normally pressed into an engaging position by the spring Z, pressing on the finger Z By this means the yoke L and the saddle m are coupled together. Pivoted to the saddle is the lever m having one end bearing on the arm Z of the lever Z when the latter is in en gagement with the catch 7%. A rod m mounted in the guide m and finger-piece m attached to one of the sleeves M, is connected at its upper end with the outer end of the lever m The rod and the outer end of the le ver are normally held in an elevated position by the spring on, interposed between the end of the said lever and the upper guide m Secured to the rod near its lower end is a block at, adapted to slide on the sleeve M. Projecting from said block is a finger-piece on, by means of which and the second fingerpiece 012 the rod can be moved to operate the lever to disengage the lever from the catch, and thereby uncouple the saddle from the yoke. The movement of the sleeves M on the rods 5 and of the saddle relative to the yoke is limited by the cords m connecting the said saddle and the said yoke.

To the lower ends of the sleeves M is so cured the parcel-receptacle 0. It rests on the cross-piece 0, connecting the lower ends of the sleeves, and it is secured by the clips 0 at the upper edges of its sides to the said sleeves. Braces 0 serve to stay the receptaole. To prevent the receptacle from swaying,

a curved spring N is secured to the upper IIO face of the saddle m and is adapted to bear on the wheels h of the carriage II.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. For the purpose of illustration it is assumed that the relative positions of the several parts of the mechanism are as shown in Fig. 1 in full lines. By means of the rod m and the intervening mechanism the saddle m is uncoupled from the yoke L and the parcel-receptacle is lowered. The parcel to be transported is placed in the receptacle and the latter is forced upward un til the saddle and yoke are again coupled. By means of the pull-cord g the slide G is moved upward on its guide-rods to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movement of the slide separates the propelling-wire P from the way WV and, lifting the rear friction-rollers h from the depressed portions 6 of the tracks of the frictional guides E, forces the carriage onto the way and along the latter to the other and higher end of the line. On reaching the opposite end of the line the carriage passes between the jaws O and strikes the buffer 19 and forces the rack-bar I) backward. The backward movement of the rackbar is limited by the buffer 19 striking against the bracket B. The rack bar moves the segmental gear and the lever 0 so that they take the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the segmental gear is rotated its inclined or cam faces 5 and 5 press on the extremities c of the inner ends of the jaws O and force them apart. This causes the forward ends 0 of thejaws to close on the carriage and to engage with the bulges h, and thereby prevents the carriage from rebounding and holds it in place.

To send the carriage back again, the lever b is raised and the segmental gear moved to relieve the pressure on the inner ends of the jaws C. The spring 0 forces the outer ends of the jaws apart and the carriage is released. When the segmental gear is rotated, the rackbar is moved against the carriage and starts the latter down the inclined way. On reaching the lower end of the inclined way, over which'it is caused to travel by the force of gravity, the carriage enters between the outer ends of the frictional guides E. The frietionrollers 72, ride upon the tracks of the guides and retard the momentum of the carriage. \Vhen the carriage enters between the outer ends of the guides, it strikes the pivoted arm 6 and moves the latter against the action of the spring 6 and thereby releases the way \V, so that said arm Will not interfere with the passage of the wheels h and 7L2. It is to be observed that before the arm is moved from engagement with the way the frictionrollers 71. have advanced to a considerable extent on the tracks. Consequently, the way having been relieved of the weight of the carriage to a considerable degree, it will not be depressed to such an extent as to interfere with the proper engagement of the rear friction-rollers with the tracks. As the frictionrollers are mounted so as to rotate with difticulty, the momentum of the carriage will be gradually stopped. As the carriage advances between the guides the upper forward wheel h engages with the elevated end of the propelling-wire and the buffer g and further movement of the carriage is prevented. The rear friction-wheels drop into the depressed portions of the tracks in the ends 6 of the frictional guides, and the carriage is thereby prevented from rebounding. The carriage is now in a position to allow the parcel-receptacle to be lowered and the parcel removed.

While the hereinbefore-described embodiment of the invention is the preferred one, yet it can be departed from to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention. l

Having thus describedthe invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of thepivoted jaws, a way adjacent to said jaws, a rack-bar movably mountedad jacent to said way, a rotatable gear engaging with said rack-bar, and adapted to turn said jaws on their pivots and a carriage adapted to travel on said way and to pass between the outer ends of said jaws and to impinge on said rack-bar.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the jaws pivoted intermediate of theirends, a way adjacent to said jaws, a rack-bar movably mounted adjacentto said way, a rotatable gear engaging with said. rackbar and having inclined sides bearing on the inner ends of the said. jaws, and a carriage adapted to travel on said way and to pass between the outer ends of said jaws and to im pinge on said rack-bar.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the jaws pivoted intermediate of their ends, a spring interposed between the outer ends of said jaws .to force the same apart, a way adjacent to said jaws, a rack-bar movably mounted between said jaws, a rotatable gear engaging with said rack-bar and having its sides inclined and bearing on the inner ends of the said jaws, and a carriage adapted to travel on said way and to pass between the outer ends of said jaws and to impinge on said rack-bar.

at. In a store=service apparatus, the combination of the jaws pivoted intermediate of their ends, a spring interposed between the outer ends of said jaws to force the same apart, a way adjacent to said jaws, a rack-bar movably mounted between said jaws, hooks carried by said rack-bar and engaging with said way, a buffer attached to the end of said rack-bar, a rotatable gear engaging with said rack-bar having its sides inclined and bearing 011 the inner ends of said jaws, an operating-lever carried by said gear, and a carriage adapted to travel on said way and to pass between the outer ends of said jaws and to move said rack-bar by impinging on said buffer.

5. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a hanger, a foot adj ustably mounted on said hanger, a way connected with said foot, frictional guides hinged to said foot on opposite sides of said way, a carriage adapted to travel on said Way, and friction-rollers for engaging with said guides.

(3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a Way, frictional guides mounted on opposite sides of said way, an arm pivoted to one of said guides for supporting the Way between said guides, and a carriage adapted to travel on said Way, and friction-rollers carried by said carriage for engaging with said frictional guides.

7. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a carriage, a yoke attached to said carriage, a lever pivoted to said yoke, a saddle having a sliding connection with said yoke, a

catch mounted on said saddle for engaging with said lever, a lever pivoted to said saddle for disengaging the first-m entioned lever from said catch, an operating-rod connected with the lever pivoted to the saddle, and a parcel receptacle attached to said saddle.

S. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a carriage, a yoke attached to said movement of said sleeves on said rods, a

mechanism for coupling said saddle to said yoke, and a parcel-receptacle attached to said sleeves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, 011 this 4th day of May, A. D. 1896.

JOHN H. GOODFELLOW.

Witnesses:

W. E. BARNARD, II. M. ROBINSON. 

